TBILISI. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin on possible visa-free travel for Georgian citizens shows that Russia is ready to cooperate with Georgia to a certain extent, Georgian Deputy Parliament Speaker Zviad Dzidziguri said.
"The elements of readiness for cooperation with Georgia can be heard in the statement of President Putin, however the expectations that we will have quick success in restoring the territorial integrity of our country are quite delusive. At the same time, any positive steps towards the cooperation of our countries can be only welcomed," Dzidziguri said.
Any positive steps of the Russian authorities regarding Georgia can turn into pressure levers in the future, former secretary of the Georgian National Security Council in the government of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, Giga Bokeria, said.
"We should not cherish hopes and depend on decisions Putin or [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov will make. We and firstly the Georgian authorities should realize that any positive steps of Russia regarding Georgia, for example, opening economic relations, are a strategic goal for the Kremlin to use these steps as pressure levers, as it has happened recently regarding Ukraine and Moldova," Bokeria said.
Putin said on Thursday he did not rule out that visa-free travel could be introduced between Russia and Georgia.
"I think we could certainly agree to return to visa-free travel. This needs to be thought out well on an expert level. This would be a very good step toward normalizing relations between our countries," Putin said at a news conference in Moscow on Thursday.
The cancellation of visas would promote communication among people and help Georgian enterprises operating on the Russian market. This would provide conditions for "fundamental and definitive normalization of our relations," he said.
"My personal attitude towards the incumbent Georgian leadership has changed," Putin said.
"We see messages that the new Georgian leadership is sending," he said.